A TEENAGER from Mid Devon helped pull an elderly woman to safety after the vehicle she was driving crashed into a hedge.

Jack Gardner-Wright who lives in Rackenford was travelling with his girlfriend Fiona and his mother Janice in her car near Loxbeare when he spotted a vehicle which appeared to have left the road close to a blind bend.

The incident occurred in misty conditions shortly after 5.30pm last Friday, November 16.

Two fire appliances from Tiverton were sent to the scene as was an ambulance.

Jack's mother said: "Jack saw yellow lights at the side of the road, so I pulled over and my son jumped out and ran down to see what had happened.

"The vehicle had wedged itself in the hedge and we were unable to get the front doors open, so he managed to get the back doors open and help her to get out that way."

Jack and his family had to act swiftly as he had smelt petrol and was worried about a leak from the vehicle.

Janice said: "Jack has gained first aid skills through his college course so was calm in the situation.

"He got her out and sat her in the back of my car. Though the woman was clearly in shock, she was very grateful to Jack."

Fire crews made the vehicle safe and notified the Environment Agency as the vehicle had come to rest in a small stream.

Janice said she was proud of her son who had endured a tough time in recent weeks, after wrongly being accused of involvement in drug-dealing during a case which concluded in court last week.

David Dart, 45, admitted causing actual bodily harm to 18-year-old Jack in September when he attacked him without warning in September when he saw him talking to friends in Rackenford.